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Baja Russia NF: Former "Nothern Forest" will open World Cup - early bird.

The "Northern Forest" is back as FIA World Cup rouns: Under the new label "Baja Russia - Northern Forest 2014", the legendary Russian winter baja on snow and ice in the near of Saint Petersburg in the FIA calendar. The rally will be first round of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup 2014 and will be held on February, 14-16, 2014.

In 2009 and 2010 the Northern Forest has already been included in FIA calendar when FIA International Cup for Cross Country Bajas was held. The event has been highly praised by international observers.

After a two-year break the Northern Forest in 2013 was held as a candidate event, and now it back as a part of the world's top off-road events series. The world's leading drivers will be able to go through paces on an uncommon for many of them snow and ice surface, and Russian drivers will enter a trial of strength with their international colleagues.

The race starts on Friday, February 14, in 50 kilometers north of St. Petersburg in the popular ski resort "Igora" at 15:00 Moscow time. After a colorful opening ceremony a short 6-km prologue (Super Special Stage) will be held. This SS will be included into the scoring baja distance as well as it'll be a qualification stage to determine the starting order for the crews on the second day. Moreover, according to the new rules the first ten Prologue winners will choose their starting positions by themselves at a press conference at 18:30 of the same day.

On Saturday and Sunday (with a night break) the crews will follow the main competition route, which will consist of 400 high-speed kilometers, divided to four special stages (including the Prologue).

On Sunday, February, 16 at 16:00 in Igora resort the crews will climb at finish podium. The preliminary results will be announced then and traditional champaigne-shower for the winners a bit later will happen. After a final press conference (17:00), at 20:00 the legendary awarding ceremony "in Russian style" in Igora Ice Palace will finalize the event.

All information about the Baja (also in English) you can find at the official website [ NORTHERN-FOREST.RU ]. Entries at a reduced fee are accepted until December, 31, 2013. On January, 1, 2014 an entry fee increases from Euro 2000 to Euro 2400. Download the Rules Draft and entry form in [ HERE ].